Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Sarah Andy from Innisfail receives her Education to Employment Scholarship from Deputy Director-General of Communities Ron Weatherall

Scholarships focus 22 on school and jobs

Sarah Andy of Innisfail was one of 22 Year 10 students to recently receive an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Toward Employment Scholarship with the Department of Communities this year.

The department now provides financial support for education and training, as well as workplace experience, over three years to 68 students under the program.

How to apply: www.qld.gov.au

Cape local authority strengthens

Another six respected community members have been appointed to the Family Responsibilities Commission to work in the Cape York Welfare Reform communities.

They are Dorothy Pootchemunka and Douglas Ahlers (Aurukun), Irene Hammett and Harold Bowen (Hope Vale) and Beryl Shuan and Daniel Fischer (Mossman Gorge).

They join 21 local commissioners helping to restore local Aboriginal authority in the Cape York communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge under a federal-state funded initiative.

Ridgie didge code for fair art deals

Both artists and buyers will benefit from Australia’s first national code of conduct for Indigenous art, setting standards for transactions between agents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and dealers.

The Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct will help artists negotiate fair deals for their work while buyers will have greater certainty of an artwork’s authenticity and the way it was purchased.

Galleries, art agents and arts centres are encouraged to become signatories to the code, registering online.

GPs to ask...

Expect to be asked "Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?" when you visit a health service soon.

It’s part of a national protocol being rolled out to improve health data, helping researchers, policy makers and community organisations better understand and respond to Indigenous health needs and issues.

The National Indigenous Health data base guidelines are available online.

More than blues?

National depression initiative Beyond Blue has produced a DVD entitled ‘Depression Yarns Tackling Depression, Anxiety and Related Disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities’.

It can be downloaded free from Beyond Blue’s website or ordered by calling their infoline: 1300 22 4636.

Feeling sad, low or moody from time to time is normal but if some of these symptoms last for four weeks or more, talk to your doctor. Depression is an illness that can be treated.

  • Feeling moody and irritable
  • Easily upset by minor personal criticism
  • No interest in food, sex, exercise or anything fun
  • Drinking more alcohol/ taking more drugs
  • Spending less time with family and friends
  • Staying home from work and activities
  • Tired for no good reason
  • Finding it hard to think straight

Help is available at Lifeline on 131114.